80 FR 48913 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects, White Pine County, NV

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 157 (August 14, 2015)

Page Range		48913-48914
FR Document		2015-19924

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan Field Office, Ely, Nevada has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects (Project) and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 157 (Friday, August 14, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 157 (Friday, August 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48913-48914]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19924]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVL01000. L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF1501180 241A; MO# 4500069201]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South 
Operations Area Projects, White Pine County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Egan Field Office, Ely, Nevada has prepared a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and 
South Operations Area Projects (Project) and by this notice is 
announcing the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations 
Area Projects Draft EIS within 45 days following the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of Availability 
in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce any public meetings or 
other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through 
public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Bald Mountain Mine 
North and South Operations Area Projects Draft EIS by any of the 
following methods:
     Email: BLM_NV_EYDO_Barrick_Bald_EIS@blm.gov.
     Fax: 775-289-1910.
     Mail: BLM Ely District, Egan Field Office, HC 33 Box 
33500, Ely, NV 89301.
    Copies of the Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area 
Projects Draft EIS are available in the Ely District Office at the 
above address and on the Ely District's Web page at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ely_field_office/blm_programs/minerals/mining_projects/bald_mountain_mine0.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Miles 
Kreidler, Project Lead, telephone: 509-536-1222; address: 702 North 
Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301; email: mkreidler@blm.gov. Persons who 
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. (Barrick) proposes to 
expand, construct, and operate an open-pit gold mining operation 
located in the Bald Mountain Mining District in White Pine County, 
Nevada, approximately 65 miles northwest of the Town of Ely. The 
proposed development and expansion would create an additional 6,891 
acres of disturbance, which would be located primarily on public land 
managed by the BLM. The projected mining period is 21 years, but the 
life of the mine would extend for 80 years, including construction, 
operation, reclamation, closure, reclamation monitoring, and post-
closure monitoring.
    The Draft EIS describes and analyzes the proposed project site-
specific impacts (including cumulative) on all affected resources. The 
DEIS describes four alternatives: approval of the project as proposed 
by Barrick (the Proposed Action), the North and South Operations Area 
Facilities Reconfiguration Alternative, the Western Redbird 
Modification Alternative, and the No Action Alternative. The North and 
South Operations Area Facilities Reconfiguration Alternative was 
developed to address potential impacts to mule deer migration; greater 
sage-grouse leks and associated Preliminary Priority Habitat (PPH) and 
Preliminary General Habitat (PGH); visual impacts affecting the 
cultural setting of the Pony Express National Historic Trail, Ruby 
Valley Pony Express Station, and Fort Ruby National Historic Landmark; 
and visual impacts affecting visitor aesthetics at the Ruby Lake 
National Wildlife Refuge. The North and South Operations Area 
Facilities Reconfiguration Alternative would result in a decrease of 
3703 acres (-54 percent) of disturbance compared to the Proposed 
Action. The Western Redbird Modification Alternative was developed to 
further address potential impacts to mule deer migration and would 
result in a decrease of 4,339 acres (-63 percent) of disturbance 
compared to the Proposed Action. Several other alternatives were 
considered but eliminated from further analysis. These alternatives 
eliminated from further consideration are discussed in Chapter 2 of the 
Draft EIS. Mitigation measures are considered to minimize environmental 
impacts and to assure the Proposed Action does not result in 
unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands.
    On April 16, 2012, a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal 
Register inviting scoping comments on the Proposed Action. A legal 
notice was prepared by the BLM and published in the Elko Daily Free 
Press, Ely Times, Eureka Sentinel, and Reno Gazette-Journal informing 
the public of the BLM's intention to prepare the Bald Mountain Mine 
North and South Operations Area Projects EIS. Public scoping meetings 
were held May 7-10 in Ely, Eureka, Elko, and Reno, Nevada. A total of 
25 comment submittals containing 180 individual comments were received. 
The comments are

[[Page 48914]]

incorporated in a Scoping Report and were considered in the preparation 
of this Draft EIS.
    Concerns raised during scoping include: potential degradation of 
surface water or groundwater quality and potential depletion to 
groundwater from pit lakes and/or water withdrawals for mine 
operations; potential impacts to mule deer habitat and migration 
corridors; potential impacts to greater sage-grouse habitat and 
strutting grounds; potential impacts to Wild Horse Herd Management 
Areas (HMAs), including herd access to surface water sources; potential 
air quality impacts from fugitive dust containing mercury, arsenic, or 
other contaminants; and potential impacts to visual resources including 
the visual setting of the Pony Express Trail and the Ruby Lake National 
Wildlife Refuge. The North and South Operations Area Facilities 
Reconfiguration Alternative was developed to help reduce impacts to 
mule deer, greater sage-grouse, and visual resources. The Western 
Redbird Modification Alternative was developed to help further reduce 
impacts to mule deer. Mitigation measures have also been included to 
show how impacts on resources could be minimized.
    The BLM has prepared the Draft EIS in conjunction with its five 
Cooperating Agencies: Nevada Department of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, State of Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Program, Eureka 
County, and White Pine County.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted, 
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at 
the above address during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501 and 43 CFR 3809.

Jill A. Moore,
Field Manager, Egan Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-19924 Filed 8-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P

48914 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 157 / Friday, August 14, 2015 / Notices

incorporated in a Scoping Report and INTERNATIONAL TRADE burden or associated response time,
were considered in the preparation of COMMISSION suggestions, or need a copy of the
this Draft EIS. proposed information collection
[USITC SE–15–025]
Concerns raised during scoping instrument with instructions or
include: potential degradation of surface Sunshine Act Meeting additional information, please contact
water or groundwater quality and Eugene Schneeberg, Director, Center for
potential depletion to groundwater from AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: United Faith-based & Neighborhood
pit lakes and/or water withdrawals for States International Trade Commission. Partnerships, U.S. Department of
mine operations; potential impacts to TIME AND DATE: August 18, 2015 at 11:00 Justice, Washington, DC 20531 (phone
mule deer habitat and migration a.m. (202) 305–7462)).
corridors; potential impacts to greater SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written
PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street SW.,
sage-grouse habitat and strutting Washington, DC 20436, Telephone: comments and suggestions from the
grounds; potential impacts to Wild (202) 205–2000. public and affected agencies concerning
Horse Herd Management Areas (HMAs), the proposed collection of information
STATUS: Open to the public. are encouraged. Your comments should
including herd access to surface water
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: address one or more of the following
sources; potential air quality impacts
1. Agendas for future meetings: none four points:
from fugitive dust containing mercury,
2. Minutes —Evaluate whether the proposed
arsenic, or other contaminants; and
3. Ratification List collection of information is necessary
potential impacts to visual resources
4. Vote in Inv. No. 731–TA–1070A for the proper performance of the
including the visual setting of the Pony
(Second Review) (Crepe Paper from functions of the Office of Justice
Express Trail and the Ruby Lake
China). The Commission is Programs, including whether the
National Wildlife Refuge. The North and
currently scheduled to complete information will have practical utility;
South Operations Area Facilities and file its determination and views
Reconfiguration Alternative was —Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s
of the Commission on August 31, estimate of the burden of the
developed to help reduce impacts to 2015.
mule deer, greater sage-grouse, and proposed collection of information,
5. Outstanding action jackets: none including the validity of the
visual resources. The Western Redbird
Modification Alternative was developed In accordance with Commission methodology and assumptions used;
to help further reduce impacts to mule policy, subject matter listed above, not —Evaluate whether and if so how the
deer. Mitigation measures have also disposed of at the scheduled meeting, quality, utility, and clarity of the
been included to show how impacts on may be carried over to the agenda of the information to be collected can be
following meeting. enhanced; and
resources could be minimized.
Issued: August 11, 2015. —Minimize the burden of the collection
The BLM has prepared the Draft EIS of information on those who are to
in conjunction with its five Cooperating By order of the Commission.
respond, including through the use of
Agencies: Nevada Department of William R. Bishop,
appropriate automated, electronic,
Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Supervisory Hearings and Information mechanical, or other technological
State of Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Officer.
collection techniques or other forms
Program, Eureka County, and White [FR Doc. 2015–20173 Filed 8–12–15; 11:15 am] of information technology, e.g.,
Pine County. BILLING CODE 7020–02–P permitting electronic submission of
Please note that public comments and responses.
information submitted, including Overview of this information
names, street addresses, and email DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE collection:
addresses of persons who submit [OMB Number—1121–NEW] 1. Type of Information Collection:
comments will be available for public This is a new information collection,
review and disclosure at the above Agency Information Collection which requires the collection and
address during regular business hours Activities; Proposed eCollection identification of types of information
(7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday eComments Requested; New that the Department does not currently
through Friday, except holidays. Collection of Information; Beneficiary collect.
Before including your address, phone Referral Request 2. The Title of the Form/Collection:
number, email address, or other Beneficiary Referral Request.
AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, 3. The agency form number, if any,
personal identifying information in your Department of Justice. and the applicable component of the
comment, you should be aware that ACTION: 60-Day notice. Department sponsoring the collection:
your entire comment—including your
The applicable component within the
personal identifying information—may SUMMARY: The Department of Justice
Department of Justice is the Office of
be made publicly available at any time. (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs will be
Justice Programs.
While you can ask us in your comment submitting the following information 4. Affected public who will be asked
to withhold your personal identifying collection request to the Office of or required to respond, as well as a brief
information from public review, we Management and Budget (OMB) for abstract: The proposed rule includes
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

cannot guarantee that we will be able to review and approval in accordance with two new paperwork requirements for
do so. the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. faith-based or religious organizations.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501 and 43 CFR 3809. DATES: Comments are encouraged and The proposed rule would require faith-
will be accepted for 60 days until based or religious organizations to give
Jill A. Moore, October 13, 2015. beneficiaries (or prospective
Field Manager, Egan Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If beneficiaries) notice informing them of
[FR Doc. 2015–19924 Filed 8–13–15; 8:45 am] you have additional comments their protections under the regulation.
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P especially on the estimated public The proposed rule would also require

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Document Created: 2018-02-23 10:59:04
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 10:59:04

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects Draft EIS within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce any public meetings or other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.
Contact		For further information contact Miles
FR Citation		80 FR 48913

80 FR 48913 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects, White Pine County, NV

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 157 (August 14, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management